Dual wheel assembly



Aug. 19, 1941. s. ASH 7 2,425,856

DUAL WHEEL ASSEIBLY Filed May '7, 1943 SSheats-Sheet 1 I fla XW,

Aug. 19, 1947. c. s. ASH

DUAL WHEEL ASSEIBLY Filed llay 7, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Xvagzn Aug. 19, 1941. c. s. ASH j 2,425,856

mm. InnnL ASSEMBLY v Filed lay 7, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Aug. 19, 1947 UNITED STATES. PATENT omcs Charles 8 Ash, Milford, Mich.

Application May 7, 1943, Serial No. 486,014

a Claim. (01. 188-18) The present invention relates to dual wheel assemblies and more particularly to assemblie in which the wheels are independently relatively rotatable. g r

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed outin the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of' the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. t

Or the drawings:

Fig. l'is a vertical sectional view showing a typical and illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevation taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

2 and the hub of the other wheel is mounted on the exterior of the first hub ior independent relative rotation.

The inner wheel of the assembly is provided I with a irusto-conical brake drum at its inner side,

with which a correspondingly shaped brake shoe is engageable by axial movement or the shoe. A second irusto-conical brake shoe is provided between the inner and outer wheels, and this shoe is likewise carried by the inner wheel, the shoe and drum being connected and mounted on the wheel for axial movement. The outer wheel web is formed in a frusto-conical shape adjacent the second brake shoe as a brake drum for the shoe. Hydraulic actuating means are provided to force the first brake shoe into braking engagement with the first brake-drum, and at the same time the second brake shoe into engagement with the second brake drum. The brake drums and shoes' are correspondingly formed and positioned having their smaller diameters outwardly of the assembly andtheir larger diameters inwardly.

A brake anchoring member is provided at the inner side of the inner wheel on theaxle and carries a. pair of links pivotally mounted thereon I which are pivotally secured at their other ends Fig. 4 i a sectional view of a modified form of the present invention.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved dual wheel assembly in which tatable. A further object is to provide such an assembly with improved braking means. The invention further provides improved vehicle wheel the two wheels are independently relativelyroin the accompanying drawings, a pair of side-byside wheels mounted at the end of a vehicle axle. The hub of one wheel is mounted tor rotation by means of suitable bearings on the axle end,

to the first brake shoe, whereby the shoe is securely held against rotation but is allowed limited axial movement.

In a modified embodiment of the invention the anchoring means for the first brake shoe comprises a metal annulus secured to the shoe at its outer periphery and to the axle at its inner periphery. The brake shoe is thus held against rotation but may have limited axial movemen into engagement with its brake drum by flexing the metal anchoring annulus.

It will be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed de-- scription a well are exemplary and explanatory of the invention but are not restrictive thereof.

Referring now in detail to the illustrative embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings, a vehicle axle III has a reduced end H upon which a dual wheel assembly is mounted. The inner wheel web I 5 of the assembly has an elongated outwardly extending hub l6 which is mounted for rotation on theaxle end II by means of anti-friction bearings l1 and i8. The inner bearing I1 is seated against a shoulder is of the vehicle axle and against a shoulder 26 of the hub, while the outer bearing I8 is seated against another shoulder 2| of the hub. Nuts 2-2 and washers 23 on the end of the axle securely position the inner wheel hub and bearing assembly. A packing ring 24 and annular guard plate 25 may be positioned at the inner end of the hub i6 to protect the bearings from dirt and loss of oil.

The outer wheel web 36 has an inwardly extending hub 3i which is journalled on the outer finished surface of hub i6 for independent relative rotation, cylindrical bushing 32 being interposed between the hubs. Hub 3| is held against the assembly from sinking in mud and sand.

axial thrust by a shoulder 33 of inner hub i6 and by ball bearing 34. Retaining nut 35 threaded on the end of hub l6 securely positions the outer hub assembly, and a cap 36 may be placed over the end of the assembly for protection of the bearings.

The wheel webs l5 and 30 are each provided with a plurality of spoke members 40 and mounting bolts 4|, whereby pneumatic tire carrying rims. 42 may be mounted on their respective wheels by means of lugs 43.

The braking means for the dual wheels comprise a frusto-conical brake drum 50 positioned at the inner side of the inner wheel web I5. The drum 50 is mounted on this wheel web for correlative rotation therewith by means of a plurality of guide rods 5| which extend through bushed apertures 52 in the wheel web. At their other ends the guide rods 5| carry a frusto-conical brake shoe 55, so that'clrum 56 and shoe 55 are carried by the inner wheel web l5 and are axially movable with respect thereto.

A frusto-conical brake shoe 56 having molded brake lining 51 is provided for engagement with the inner brake drum 50, and is actuated by hydraulic cylinders 58. The cylinders have pistons 59 adjustably secured to the brake shoe by means of threaded rods 60, and are mounted on anchor arms 6| which are fast on the vehicle axle ill.

The outer wheel web 30 is formed at its radially outer portion in a frusto-conical brake drum portion 65, and brake shoe 55 has molded brake lining 66 on its exterior surface for engagement therewith.

Thus actuation of brake shoe 56 into engagement with drum 50 for braking the inner wheel will at the same time actuate the outer brake shoe 55 into engagement with the brake drum portion 65, providing for the braking of the outer wheel with the innerv wheel. The brake drums and shoes are correspondingly formed and positioned so that their wider openings or diameters are inwardly of the assembly and of the vehicle and their smaller openings or diameters are outwardly. Thus in braking the wheels of the assembly the smaller members 56 and 55 of the braking mechanism are forced by outwardly directed axial force into the larger members 53 and 65.

The outer wheel web 30 is formed at its outer periphery in an inwardly axially extending cylindrical portion 10 which is enclosed by an outwardly axially extending cylindrical portion ll of the periphery of the inner wheel web I5, and an annular sealing washer 12 is positioned in a groove in portion 10. The braking mechanism between the wheels is thus effectively protected against dust and dirt. Moreover, the major portion of the space between the Wheels is thus closed oil? from the accumulation of rocks, chunks of dirt, etc., which is extremely troublesome in con- Sturdy and substantially frictionless brake anchoring means are provided in the assembly, and as embodied comprise the anchor arms 15 which are secured to axle l0 and extend vertically upwardly and downwardly therefrom. Each arm 15 has secured at its outer end a pivot pin I6 on which an anchor link 11 is mounted; A spring 16 on the end of each pin 16 holds the links 11 in place. with a pair of slotted hangers 19 and pivot pins 86 which receive the other ends of anchor links 11,- thus pivotally mounting the links on the brake shoe.

The pins 60 are substantially radial of shoe 56 and substantially parallel to the other pivot pins 16 when the brakes are in retracted position. A coiled spring. 6| between brake drum 55 and wheel web l5, and another coiled spring 62 between brake shoe 56 and an arm 6i maintain the brake shoes and drums out of engagement except when purposely actuated.

The brake shoes 56 and 65 and the brake drums 50 and 55 may be formed to a close accuracy because of their frusto-conical shape and will be positioned in very close adjacency to their cooperating brake members when the"brakes are retracted. A very slight axial movement of the members 50, 55 and 56 is thus involved in applying the brakes.

The links I! are'mounted on pivot pin 16 with ample tolerance to allow for the necessary axial movement of brake shoe 56, and springs 16 take up any looseness which may result.

As will be seen by reference -to Figure 2, presuming the wheels to be travelling clockwise. when shoe 56 is actuated into engagement with drum 50 there will bea tendency for shoe 56 to revolve clockwise due to frictional engagement therewith. The outward axial movement of shoe 56 has placed pins axially outward of pins 16 and the clockwise force in shoe 56 is divided by links 11 into opposedcounterclockwise and axially outward forces based on pins 16, the outward forces acting over links l1 to augment the braking action of shoes 56. The frictionally produced force producing this so-called servo action is most effectively utilized to produce outward axial force when the linkage is located entirely inwardly of the surfaces of the brake elements 50, 51 whose frictional engagement produce the force.

A modified embodiment of the anchoring means of the present invention is illustratively shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. As there embodied, a metal annulus is provided preferably having a' plurality of circumferential corrugations to give added strength and resiliency to the member. The annulus 85 is secured at its inner periphery to an integral flange 86 of axle l0, and at its outer periphery to inwardly extending projections. 81 of brake shoe 56. The shoe is thus securely held against rotary movement, but is capable of axial movement suflicient to engage the brakes of the assembly.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but' departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is:

1. A dual wheel brake for coaxial, independ- The inner brake shoe 56 is provided ently rotatable wheels including, in combination, a brake member of conical form carried by the outer wheel, a second brake member of corresponding shape carried by the inner wheel and engageable with the first member, a third conical brake member carried by the inner wheel, a fourth member of corresponding shape engageable with the third member, and anchoring means for the fourth member including an anchored member held against rotation, and a link pivotally mountedon the anchored member and the fourth member.

2, A dual wheel brake for coaxial, independently rotatable wheel including in combination a brake member of conical form carried by the outer wheel, a second brake member of corresponding shape carried by the inner wheel and engageable with the first member, a third conical brake member carried by the inner wheel and an anchored brake member of corresponding shape engageable therewith, said brake members having their greater diameters inwardly of the assembly.

3. In a braked dual wheel assembly having coaxial, side-by-side independently rotatable wheels, the combination of a non-rotatable support on which the wheels are rotatably mounted and a pair of frusto-conical brake members for each wheel, one pair on either side of the inner wheel, one brake member being fast to the outer wheel and another fast to the support and means for relatively axially moving the brake members of each pair, said brake members having their greater diameters inwardly of the assembly.

4. A dual wheel brake for coaxial independently rotatable wheels including in combination a brake member of conical form carried by the outer wheel, a second brake member of corresponding shape carried by the inner wheel and engageable with the first member a third conical brake member carried by the inner'wheel, a fourth brake member of corresponding shape engageable with the third member anda resilient anchoring member held against rotation con-- nected to the fourth member holding said member against rotation but allowing axial movement thereof.

5. In a braked wheel assembly, an axle, av

rotatable wheel, an outer braking member on the wheel having an inner peripheral frusto-conical braking surface, an inner braking member axially movable toward and from the outer braking memher and having an outer peripheral frusto-conical braking surface for engagement with the braking surface thereof, said braking surfaces being generated'about an axis extending generally in the direction of the axis of the wheel and having.

their greater diameters facing inwardly of the wheel assembly, an anchoring member fixed to the axle against rotation relatively to the wheel, and having portions extending radially of the wheel beyond opposite sides of the axle. and a pivotal connection between. each of said portions of said anchoring member and the inner braking movable toward and from th outer braking member and having an outer peripheral frusto-conical braking surface for engagement with the braking surface thereof, said braking surfaces being generated about an axis extending generally in the direction of the axis of the wheel and having their greater diameters facing inwardly of the wheel assembly, an anchoring member fixed to the axle against rotation relatively to the wheel and having arms extending vertically above and below the axle and pivotal connections between the anchor arms and the inner braking member on opposite sides of the axial center of the wheel, each consisting of a pin on an anchoring arm inclined to the vertical plane thereof, a pin on the inner braking member extending inward radially therefrom so as to lie substantially parallel with the first-named pin in the retracted position of the inner braking member, and a link connected at its opposite ends with the respective pins.

7. In a braked wheel assembly, a rotatable wheel, an outer brake member on the wheel having, an inner peripheral frusto-conical braking surface, an inner braking member axially movable toward and from the outer braking member and having an outer peripheral frusto-conical braking surface for engagement with the braking ,surface thereof, said braking surfaces being generated about an axis extending generally in the direction of the axis of the wheel and having their greater diameters facing inwardly of the wheel assembly and anchoring means for the inner braking member comprising an anchoring member held against rotation relatively to the wheel, a pair of pivot pins one inclined to the plane of and carried by the anchoring member being generated about an axis extending generally in the direction of the axis of the wheel and having their greater diameters facing inwardly of the wheel assembly, and anchoring means for the inner braking member comprising an anchoring member held against rotation relative to the wheel, and link connections between said. inner braking member and the .anchoring member on opposite sides of the axial center of the wheel, each consisting of a pair of pivot pins one inclined to the vertical plane of the wheel and carried by the anchoring member and the other carried by the inner braking 7 member and extending inwardly radially therefrom, and a link pivotally connected at posite ends with the respective pins.

9. A dual brake for .coaxial independently rotatable wheels, including in combination a its opbrake member of conical form carried by the outer wheel, a second brake member of corresponding shape carried by the inner wheel and engageable with the first member, a third conical brake member carried by the inner wheel, a brake member of, corresponding shape engageable therewith, said brake members having their greater diameters inwardly of the assembly, an

1 anchor member, and anchor link conenctions between the last named brake member and the anchor member.

CHARIES S. ASH.

, REFERENCES ormn The following references are of record in the file of this patent;

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name I Date 1,912,716 Lane June 6, 1933 2,057,796 Shelor Oct. 20, 1936 Number Number 

